China’s new tariffs on U.S. energy imports are expected to hit the metallurgical coal market the hardest, given its role in steel production. While crude oil and LNG trade between the two countries is small, with minimal global disruption anticipated, U.S. coking coal made up nearly 12% of China’s seaborne imports in 2024. 

If these tariffs make American coal uncompetitive, China’s steelmakers will need to turn to other suppliers, most likely Australia and Canada. This shift could force China to pay a premium, as these countries already have strong demand from India, the largest global importer of coking coal. 

A reshuffling of trade routes might occur, with China buying more Australian coal and India offsetting that by sourcing more from the U.S., though not without some initial price volatility. As coking coal prices have been falling, Australian exports could gain a pricing edge if Chinese buyers pivot, while U.S. producers might face challenges securing alternative markets.

Finsum: Pay attention to the commodities circuit, as tariffs start to take hold, retaliatory efforts could spawn ways to generate alpha. 

Broadway’s spring season is blooming with an eclectic mix of new musicals, revivals, and star-studded productions. Idina Menzel makes her grand return in Redwood, a powerful story set against the majestic backdrop of California’s redwood forests. 

Audiences can dive into history with Operation Mincemeat, a witty and thrilling musical about a real-life WWII deception, or get swept away to Havana with Buena Vista Social Club, celebrating the music and legends of Cuba. Heavyweight performances are also on the horizon, with Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal taking on Othello, while Sarah Snook brings all 26 characters of 

The Picture of Dorian Gray to life in a mesmerizing solo performance. Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ Purpose promises a poignant look at a Black political dynasty, and Glengarry Glen Ross returns with Kieran Culkin and Bob Odenkirk delivering Mamet’s sharp-edged dialogue. 

Finsum: Whether you crave classic drama, innovative storytelling, or dazzling music, Broadway this spring offers a show-stopping experience for every theatergoer.

GeoWealth has expanded its platform offerings through a new partnership with Halo Investing, allowing advisors to build and manage customizable structured note portfolios within a unified managed account (UMA). 

This collaboration gives advisors the ability to view, report, and bill at the individual sleeve level using GeoWealth’s proprietary sub-accounting system. Halo’s fintech platform, launched in 2015, has facilitated $12.5 billion in issuance, offering not just structured notes but market-linked CDs, buffered ETFs, and annuities, with robust tools for analysis, execution, and portfolio management. 

The partnership arrives on the heels of GeoWealth’s acquisition of First Ascent Asset Management, boosting its platform assets to $21 billion and reinforcing its tech-forward approach with half its workforce dedicated to product and engineering. As structured notes become more integrated into advisor strategies, this move positions GeoWealth to offer more diversification and income-generating opportunities for clients. 

Finsum: This timely expansion the growing demand for alternative fixed-income solutions amid shifting market conditions.

Asia’s hedge fund market is evolving, with diversification beyond long/short equity into multi-strategy and quantitative approaches, particularly in Japan. The adoption of separately managed accounts (SMAs) is rising, offering investors greater customization, risk control, and transparency. 

Allocators are increasingly partnering with emerging managers early, securing better terms and gaining specialized market insights. Transparency and authenticity are becoming crucial, as investors seek managers who openly share their strategies, risks, and past performance. 

Japan remains a key focus, while sectors like artificial intelligence and semiconductors present new investment opportunities. 

Finsum: Despite these trends, raising capital remains challenging for emerging managers, who must establish strong infrastructure and a compelling value proposition to attract investors.

Many financial advisors endure frustrations with their broker-dealers to avoid the challenges of switching firms, even when better opportunities exist. 

1. Declining service quality is a common issue, as both small and large broker-dealers struggle with staffing shortages and operational inefficiencies. 
2. High costs, including elevated advisory fees, platform charges, and insurance expenses, further add to the burden, often without delivering corresponding value. 
3. Financially struggling broker-dealers also fail to invest in technology, staffing, or advisor support, limiting growth potential. 

Advisors tied to outdated systems and inadequate resources risk falling behind competitors who embrace innovation. 

Finsum: Ultimately, remaining with an underperforming broker-dealer can stifle an advisor’s long-term success.

Financial advisors excel at general financial planning, but tax strategies, estate management, and insurance analysis often require specialized expertise. Many advisors lack the credentials to handle these areas comprehensively, creating gaps in client services. 

FP Alpha, an AI-driven platform, aims to bridge this divide by automating tax, estate, and insurance planning. Founded by Andrew Altfest and Luis Quiroz, the software analyzes client documents and generates actionable recommendations. 

To test its capabilities, a financial profile of a married couple was uploaded, revealing valuable insights on tax optimization, estate adjustments, and insurance coverage. With seamless integration into existing financial tools and cost-effective pricing, FP Alpha proves to be a game-changer for advisors.

Finsum: Financial advisors have many options to integrate AI into their practice and this is a great example to increase productivity. 

Donald Trump’s stance on renewable energy has created uncertainty, but investors are still finding opportunities in the sector. Federal permitting delays and funding pauses have caused disruptions, though legal challenges may curb their effects. 

Meanwhile, energy firms such as TotalEnergies see long-term potential in the U.S. market and continue to invest in clean power. Enphase Energy has defied expectations with solid earnings and an expanded domestic manufacturing footprint. 

While offshore wind faces setbacks, onshore projects are set to grow significantly this year. Companies like First Solar and Vestas Wind Systems, despite recent stock declines, could benefit from the ongoing transition to renewables.

Finsum: Renewables aren’t dead, but there is certainly going to be more attention on which firms can withstand the tightening that could come with the new administration. 

Yael van der Wouden’s The Safe Keep delves into the dark history of Jewish property theft during World War II in the Netherlands, exploring how stolen belongings were never returned to their rightful owners. The novel follows Isabel, a woman maintaining her family home after her mother’s passing, only to uncover unsettling truths about its past.

James by Percival Everett reimagines The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by shifting the focus to Jim, offering a profound critique of literary history and racial narratives. Samantha Harvey’s Orbital juxtaposes the routine of astronauts aboard the International Space Station with the escalating climate crisis on Earth, questioning the cost of human ambition. 

Charlotte Wood’s Stone Yard Devotional follows a woman seeking refuge in a remote religious community, confronting themes of loss, responsibility, and spiritual contemplation. Rachel Kushner’s Creation Lake satirizes the contradictions of utopian communities through the lens of an undercover spy navigating the flaws of an eco-activist commune.

Finsum: These are great options to stay in the zietgiest of fiction but also escape the day-to-day work for those in finance. 

Insurance companies are increasingly turning to asset-backed bonds to support annuity payouts amid surging demand for retirement income products. Securitized assets now make up a quarter of insurers’ bond holdings, with exposure growing by $365 billion since 2017, according to Morgan Stanley. 

Higher interest rates have fueled record annuity sales, reaching $432.4 billion in 2024, marking a 12% annual increase. This trend has intensified insurers’ appetite for asset-backed securities (ABS) and collateralized loan obligations (CLOs), which saw combined holdings rise to $312 billion last year. 

Esoteric ABS, including whole business and digital infrastructure securitizations, have become key components of insurers’ portfolios due to their yield and duration advantages. As demographic shifts drive continued demand for annuities, Morgan Stanley projects structured credit exposure to grow at a 6% annualized rate through 2027.

Finsum: It’s important to understand the underlying structure of annuities, because it tells a compelling story for their high demand. 

Value stocks are making a strong comeback in early 2025, with major names like JPMorgan Chase, IBM, and Ford surpassing earnings expectations. The Vanguard Value ETF, which has lagged behind the S&P 500 in recent years, is now up 4.8% year-to-date, outpacing the broader market’s 3.5% gain. 

A key driver has been robust earnings, as 72% of value companies have exceeded forecasts, well above the long-term median of 63%. Large banks have been standout performers, benefiting from improved investment banking revenue and lower interest rates compared to last year. 

IBM has also surged, riding the AI wave and streamlining operations, while Ford remains a deep-value play despite short-term headwinds. With a forward P/E of just 6.4 and a high dividend yield, Ford could reward investors willing to weather its challenges.

Finsum: Factor investing is very cyclical, and with interest rate uncertainty it might be time to consider value as a critical factor when making portfolio changes.